Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Chris Skidmore Excerpts

Thursday 31st October 2019 Ministerial Corrections

[Douglas Ross (Moray) (Con)]

T10. I recently visited Orbex in Forres, which is heavily involved in the new spaceport at Sutherland and is seen as a sector leader with its new innovative launch vehicle. Will the Minister outline what support the UK Government can give to companies such as Orbex, which plans to bring 250 high-quality jobs to the region?

[The Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Chris Skidmore)]

The Government support growing our national space capabilities, especially by establishing the new national space council, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister. We are supporting Orbex to develop an exciting new launch vehicle technology with a grant of £5.5 million as part of our industrial strategy. We are keen to work with it as part of the wider national space framework we are establishing.

[Official Report, 22 October 2019, Vol. 666, c. 808-09.]

Letter of correction from the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, the right hon. Member for Kingswood (Chris Skidmore):

An error has been identified in the response I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Moray (Douglas Ross).

The correct response should have been:

[Chris Skidmore]

The Government support growing our national space capabilities, especially by establishing the Cabinet-level National Space Council. We are supporting Orbex to develop an exciting new launch vehicle technology with a grant of £5.5 million as part of our industrial strategy. We are keen to work with it as part of the wider national space framework we are establishing.